Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program-Stream 1: Producer Project

Overview of the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program-Stream 1: Producer Project program:

This program offers funding for projects to invest in constructing or enhancing water storage systems. Successful applicants of Stream 1: Producer Projects will receive up to $1,000,000 in cost-shared financing to increase agriculture water availability. Important Dates: June 27, 2024: Application drafts open, you may begin drafting your application. July 25, 2024: Application submissions open, submit your application starting at 9AM. August 8, 2024: Applications Close at 4PM Project Start Date: Upon approval. Project End Date: Maximum of 36-months following the project start date.* January 15, 2032: All projects must be complete.* *Projects should be completed within 3 years, or before January 15, 2032, whichever comes first.

Benefits of the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program-Stream 1: Producer Project program:

• Alleviate both spring flooding and summer drought

Eligibility criteria of the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program-Stream 1: Producer Project program:

• Assessments and Plans: Applicants must have completed all required assessments, engineering studies, or plans, either within or outside of IAF-delivered programs, before applying for funding.
• Standards and Requirements: Applicants must meet all technical, environmental, and regulatory standards and requirements, as applicable. This includes:
• To be considered eligible for this stream, applicants must be BC-based and an individual producer (i.e. a single farm), including:
• Producer Cooperative
• Producer Corporation
• Producer Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Producer Partnership
• Producer Sole proprietorship
• Indigenous Producer Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Indigenous Producer Partnership
• Indigenous Producer Sole Proprietorship
• Indigenous Cooperative
• Indigenous Corporation
• Individual producers and Indigenous producers who use water for a mix of agricultural and non-agricultural uses are eligible.
• Obtaining or amending a water licence.
• Providing documentation from the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship confirming the proposed work is mandatory or recommended.
• Securing authorization from the Dam Safety Program for the alteration, improvement, or replacement of a dam.
• Receiving approval from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC).
• Pending Permits: If permits are pending or under review but the application is otherwise complete, please refer to the Review and Adjudication section.
• Eligible Activities:
• Rehabilitation and Upgrades: Rehabilitation and upgrades of regulated and unregulated agricultural dams and reservoirs.
• Dugouts and Storage Infrastructure: Improvement, expansion, or new construction of dugouts and related storage infrastructure.
• Water Storage Infrastructure: New construction of other water storage infrastructure.
• Conveyance Ditches to Pipelines: Improvement, expansion, or new construction of off-farm conversion of conveyance ditches to pipelines.
• Water Delivery Systems: Improvement, expansion, or new construction of water delivery systems to the farm gate.